Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.in disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program Summary

The PROPEL Africa Project (Pathways to Resilience, Opportunities, Professional Employment and Learning) aims to address the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment in Liberia, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. Currently, young people encounter systemic barriers to securing dignified employment, arising from misalignments between skills development and labour market needs, and inadequate access to financial resources. Implemented by JA Africa and Mercy Corps, PROPEL responds to these challenges through a dual approach: equipping underserved youth aged 15–30 with relevant, demand-driven business, employability and life skills, while simultaneously improving the way the labour market works for young people.

Position Summary

The PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist leads the design and implementation of strategies and activities across the four countries to improve young people’s access to appropriate financial products and services. This includes providing strategic and technical guidance, planning and managing activities, identifying and managing partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs), and recruiting and managing consultancy support to ensure the availability and use of youth-friendly financial training and tools, and catalyzing market solutions that expand opportunities for underserved youth.

Essential Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead financial inclusion strategy across program countries to enable young people to access, use and benefit from formal and informal savings and credit products, including through digital services and channels
• Conduct market assessments to identify barriers and opportunities for youth financial access.
• Provide technical guidance on youth-friendly financial products and partnerships with FSPs, fintechs, and MFIs.

Program Quality & Innovation

• Ensure financial inclusion interventions align with market systems development principles.
• Support pilots and scale-up of innovative financial solutions.
• Work with the MEAL team to assess financial inclusion outcomes and adjust strategies.

Partnership Management

• Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, regulators, and ecosystem actors.
• Support negotiation of partnership agreements and co-designed interventions.

Capacity Building

• Train country teams and partners on financial inclusion approaches.
• Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support.

Finance & Compliance Management

• In collaboration with the countries operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.

Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

• Ensure that PROPEL activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

Consultants or Country Financial Inclusion Officers as needed. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: PROPEL Program Director
• Works Directly With: Country Teams, Ecosystem Support Functions Specialist, JA Africa technical teams, and Mercy Corps’ Global and Regional Technical and Quality teams

Knowledge & Experience

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, development studies, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in financial inclusion, inclusive finance, entrepreneurship development, or market systems programming.
• Strong understanding of youth financial behaviors and constraints in African markets.
• Experience engaging with private sector partners, FSPs, or fintechs.

Success Factors

A successful Financial Inclusion Specialist is able to translate financial system constraints into practical program interventions. They have strong negotiation and partnership development skills. They have an innovative mindset and a commitment to inclusive market solutions.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Kampala Uganda. It requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected])